Box-fastener



" (No Model.)

B. L. MUELLER. Box Fastener.

No. 240,264. Patented April 19,1881.

\ UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIcE.

EDWARD L. MUELLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BOX-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,264, dated April 19, 1881.

Application filed February 12, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. MUELLER, of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Box-Fasteners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fasteners for boxes or cases having a lid or cover to be secured.

The objects of my improvements are to provide simple and cheap means whereby the cover can be readily secured to its place, also be readily removed from the box when desired; also, if desired, whereby the fastening device so securing the cover can be hidden by sealing-wax or be sealed; and otherwise my fastener is of such construction as to add strength to the cover and box, and in nowise interferes with the proper handling of the box for storage, transportation, or marketable purposes. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ordinary egg-box having its cover secured by my improved fastening device. Part of the box, in the middle, is broken away to show the dividing-partition and upper slats. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan view of parts-via, the cover having circular opening, the dividingpartition having turn-bar, the latter shown turned crosswise over the two under opposite slats belonging to the cover. Fig. 3 is a detail section, taken on line 00 w, of parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of sameparts shown in Fig. 2, excepting that the turn-bar is shown in open or unlocked position; and Fig. 5 is a cross-section of parts shown in Fig. 4, taken on line as :10.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A is an ordinary egg box or casing, having the central partition, B, dividing the interior into the usual two compartments. 7

G is the lid or cover, having the usual slats, c 0, attached to its ends. Likewise attached to the ends of the box A are the slats c 0.

My improved manner and means to attach the cover 0 to the top of the box A is as follows: I provide the cover 0 (preferably in the middle thereof and in line with the top face of. the division or partition) with a circular opening, d. (See figures.) To the under side of the cover 0, I secure the two opposite slats e c, and these are arranged so that each shall fit alongside of the central partition, B.

can turn or be partially turned to assume either of the positions shown in the figures. The turn-bar is therefore arranged to occupy its positionsinside of the circular opening existing in the cover when same is placed top of the box.

The box-fastenin g thus constructed is easily operated in manner as follows: The cover 0 is placed top of the box A, as indicated, the slats on the under face of the cover coming alongside of the central partition, while the end slats of cover fit or rest top of the slats or cleats of the-box. Theposition of the turnbar D is clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5-that is, as being parallel with the top face of the partition when the cover is placed top of the box. In order to secure the cover to its place top of the box, the turn-bar D is partially turned so as to occupy the position as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3-say at right angles to the central partition, and so that the opposite ends of the,

turn-bar shall bear against the exposed portions 0 e of the slats e e, as shown. To readily remove the cover, the operator simply turns the turn-bar to first position.

The advantages of this improvement to secure the cover to the box over those fasteners now in use is that the slats e e brace and strengthen the cover in the middle, and prevent same from lateral play. The fastening device proper is not-in the way of handling the box.

No part of my improvement projects from the box or cover. Hence the case'or box can be the cover C, having circular opening, and the slats e c to receive the ends of the turn-bar, 10 as and for the purpose set forth.

EDWARD L. MUELLER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. HERTHEL, FRANK HOEHN. 

